Features

Bridal speeching! Yay or nay?

By Niamh Bartley

A lot of modern brides are opting to make a speech on their wedding day. It can be a great addition to the wedding day, but we’ve put together a pro and con list to help you decide whether or not this modern trend could be for you. We love the idea but there are arguments both for and against so have a read and see what you think.

FOR

It can be touching Obviously, it’s lovely to hear from a bride when you go to their wedding, they have spent so long putting together this day and it’s nice for them to reach every guest at once.

It saves time Some of your guests may feel scorned if you don’t talk to them personally, but if you have a wedding of 200 people it is impossible to have a lengthy conversation (or even share a few words) with every single person you invite. You’ll have great intentions of doing so, but you’ll be dragged away for photos and drinks and so many different things that you simply won’t have the time. Making a speech will make your guests and you feel better and it means you won’t have to worry as much about running around to everybody and you can enjoy your day that much more.

AGAINST

Additional speech time Wedding speeches are lovely and touching, but sometimes they do tend to drag on a bit long. If you’re making your speeches before the meal you’re in for a starving crowd of guests so be careful not to make your part too long. Additionally, if your speeches are after dinner your guests will want to go dancing and to the bar, not sit at the table for an extra hour than they need to. Danger of repetition Unless you have a way with words, your speech will probably consist of lots of ‘thank you’ and ‘we’re glad you could make it’, but your husband might have similar ideas and you could end up saying the same thing as each other, at least in part. This will most definitely bore your guests so try to coordinate your speech with his, without giving too much away, or else you could be in a bit of bother.